National Republican., 1887-03-25
MIR. wATrERsoN,s VIE VS..
Cleveland Democratic Necossity--The o
Solid South Ready to Break.
In the Chlcapn Trihnn No.

Interview in the Chicago Tribune.l
"Mr. Watterson, what about Clevelandfn
81 do not believe there is the slightest
chance Of the Democratic party winning
next year unless It does nominate Cleve-
land. He is the only man that can, under
present conditions, carry the party to VIC
tory. don't see how they are going to get
around It. They must take him. IL will
be perhaps to some like a dose Of medlcine,
but, then, as the .quack says, ITS my com
pound or doath.'n
"One object OF John Sherman's tour
South, 1t is said by Virginia paper, is to
prepare the way forreyiving the Republican
party there, outside of negroism aud sec
tional prejudice. Do you believe such
thing possibe"
at is not only possible, but probable.
am looking every year for abreak.up OF the
solid south, and IL will be good thing for
the country when IL comes. But IL will
never come until the Republican party Of
the north drops its sectionalism, ceases its
attempts to array race against race, and
buries the bloody shirt. That garment
should be burned and It's ashes scattered
just so long as the Republicans keep alive
the memories OF the war, keep aloft the
banner Of sectlonallsm, seek to aid and
maintain negro dominance under the senti-
mental guise OF equal rights and all that,
just so long will the white people OF the
south maintain solid front. They must
do IT,. 1t Is their protection. Their safety
OF self.interest, will keep them up to the
rack. But the old whig leaven is there in
all the states, and especially In those where
once 1t was the strongest. You couldn't
get any southern man now perhaps to avow
himself in sympathy with the old whlg
principles, but they all love the memory OF
Henry Clay and the Idea OF protection, in-
ternal improvements, Capitalization, and
simplitlcatlon Of government is strong with
very large proportion of them. 1t would
be the easiest thing In the world to develop
these ideas II the south could only be
assured that the effort was made IN
good faith and that the sectional
cry was to cease forever. The coun-
try is ripe for break up. A new era has
begun. New blood is coming In. Capital
is pouring to the front. Railways are
building and extending. There is, indeed,
new SOUTH and now 1t only remains for
the politicians Of the north to understand
their duty. You may think this is queer
talk from Democrat, but then 1 indulge
| in queer talks sometimes. / believe II
would be great thing for the whole
| country, and for the Democratic party IN
particular, to break up the solid south and
cease TO elect presidents and congresses on
| sectional lines. II is coming as sure as the
sun shines. Look at Virginia with her six
Republican congressman out OF eight.
North Carolina is trembling on the verge OF
| political revolution; Tennessee doesn't dare
| go out after dark for fear OF finding the
| house occupied by some stranger on hei
return; Alabama is filling up with northern
people and is bound to be protection
state. All these things point to a new era
in American politics, and welcome the day
OF its advent. II Mr.. Sherman can do any.
thing in his next weeks tour to prepare the
| people Of the south for the reception o
new ideas or make them believe that thC
old ones are dead and buried he will b(
| doing great work.n